natural girls
Comments
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I have recently run out of body scrub. Trying to get ris of all the dead and dry winter skin. I do buy organic and paraben free products , but they can be pricy especially because I go through a lot. So I came across a body scrub recipe that is a lot less than buying in the store.
Homemade Body Scrub
I use a lean used jam or marmalade jar to put it in.I'm actually thinking of making a whole bunch of jars to give to my friends for Xmas.
- Blend 1/3 cup (75 ml) brown sugar with 1/2 cup (125ml) oil such as almond or grapeseed oil
- Add a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender for calming or lemon grass for energizing OR instead of essential oil, add minced ginger,which stimulates circulation
- Add a drop or two of vanilla extract
Easy and simple...
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Lexilove, what a fantastic sounding potion -- I will try it with pleasure! Will it go bad after a while, do you think?
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I keep mine in the fridge. To help with not spoiling, I will have to see what happens actually.this is my first time making it. Good question!
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I do love quinoa, and I like to cook in in chicken broth (organic, or course) for more flavor. Has anyone tried amaranth? Supposed to be another super healthy grain (or seed) but I haven't tried it yet.
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Spring--yes I know! I am making a list for the nutritionist--finally got through to set up an apt. She is probably going to dread seeing me with all the well-prepped questions I'll have for her!
I just read that supplements of vitamin D aren't good if one is taking tamox as may interfere--there is a fairly low dose (50 IU, I think that is low) in my multi-vitamin so I'll have to ask if that is a problem. My onc didn't mention it either--she did say a multi-vitamin was ok. I hope you continue fine on tamox--so far I have been good too, thank god! 0 -
i'd be eating that stuff in the shower.
thanks
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LOL@apple..
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For all you Moms, send this to someone who needs reminding:
Because laughter is the best medicine!!!
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Crap! Allie, I am going to have to ask about this Vit D thing on another thread!
LOL Apple aobut eating the Lexilove's potion in the shower!!!
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I love the info about iodine. Did any of you have thyoid issues prior to BC? About 12 years ago I was living in mexico, and washing all my fruits and vegs with iodine. After two years of this I was diagnosed with hyperactive thyroid. When I came back to Canada, I was told that I needed to have my thyroid radiated (symptoms were weight loss, racing heart, weak muscles, shakes). When I went to have my thyroid tested they asked if I had consumed any shellfish in the past 24hrs, I asked why, and I was told that the iodine in the shellfish caused the thyroid to speed up. Well, I made the connection to my thyroid and the iodine I'd been ingesting. I refused to have my thyroid radiated (much to my first endocrynologists dismay). I found another doctor who gave me a drug to block my overactive thyroid while supplementing with synthetic hormone. After one year I was taken off this regime, and all indicators showed that my thyroid was functioning normally. However, in the last 12 years, despite often trying, I have experienced a slow but steady weight gain. (also had 2 kis ...) I was more active before kids and the two pregnancies didn't help, but I now wonder if my thyroid is too slow. Just wanted to know if anyone out there taking supplements has also had their thyroid functioning looked at as well. I'd like to start supplements, as it seems funny that iodine could be effecting my health again, but I don't want to go down the road of hyperactivity again. Any info would be appreciated. 0 -
rina,
I have been hypothyroid for years, and have been on Synthroid. I am now taking the iodine supplement (50mg Iodoral and ATP cofactor). It is supposed to be good for everything, thyroid and other parts of your body.
Spring.
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Springtime,
How were you diagnosed with hypothyroid? What were your symptoms. Also, has an endocrynologist said that the iodine supplement is safe?
rinna
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LisaSayers
What a fool that doctor was to tell you that what you eat does not matter. I would have been outta there too. Amazing!
I am beginning to think they have all been brainwashed and indoctrinated by the drug companies. Thank goodness for the ones that still have an open mind.
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Rinna,
I had a slightly enlarged area in throat, so GP ordered a test (blood test) to find I was hypothyroid. I was very tired, but just thought that was "me". After I was on synthroid, I found I had more energy.
I am seeing my GP about all the iodine test results this summer.
I don't have an endocrynologist - Do I need one?
Spring.
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Hey Ladies...I was preparing for my Live Long Live Strong presentation tonight and remembered a website that you all may be interested in. It is regarding adoptogens
Here is the link
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Susers, you are exactly right! He was old school too...so nothing you could tell him would change his thinking. No thank you!
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Spring,
I'm not sure if you need an endocrynologist. I know that when I had hyperthyroidism my GP referred me to one. When I didn't like the first one I found one that I liked and he referred me to that one. All my treatment with regards to my thyroid were done by the endocrynologist. I think that I may go to my GP again and ask to have my thyriod tested again though. I just find it interesting. I do often feel tired, but before my dx I was working full time teaching kindergarten and then coming home to my 4 and 7 year old. I felt I was tired because of that. I just want to be sure that it is safe to take the iodine, seeing as it sent my thyriod into a tailspin before. Do you find that you have any shakes, heart racing ... when you take tha supplements?
Rinna
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Hi Rinna, I have no side effects from the Iodoral...
I am so surprised by so many health professionals who think "what you eat does not matter" to cancer.
Spring.
Lisa, I am checking out adaptagens now, who knew!!!
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Lisa! LOL LOL LOL, have you ever checked out the "Mystery Meat Macrophotography" at that site?? Totally GROSS!!! But funny! THere is commentary too! cracked me up!
Sp[ring.
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Please excuse me for butting in on this iodine thread, but I finally bought some agave nectar - I read about it here. is the idea that it has a low glycemic index so is preferable to things like honey or maple syrup? Is it something diabetics can use instead of those awful-tasting things like splenda? It has 16 g. sugar per Tbsp! use in moderation? preferable to sugar because it hasn't been bleached?
I'd be happy if someone could help me out....I don't have a sweet tooth but my diabetic partner sure does!
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Spring, I've never heard of ATP cofactor. Is that a brand name or the name of a product?
I've written to Brita to inquire if their plastics contain bisphenol A. I really hope the answer will be no.
I was just thinking back to when I was newly dx'd. I was meeting with a local surgeon, and he was telling me that some doctors around here get bent out of shape if a patient chooses to get treatment from MD Anderson. He indicated that I could go there if I wanted and he would forward all my records to them. I remember thinking at the time, he stopped short of saying he wasn't one of those doctors who gets bent out of shape if I go somewhere else, but he gave the impression that he wasn't.
Six months later I had what I call a 'physician encounter of the third kind' when I told him I was going to Louisiana for my mast and reconstruction. That man scared me half to death. Later, I realized that leaving town for my surgery was the best decision I made that whole year of treatment.
In that same appointment with the local surgeon, I remember a brief discussion about food. I told him I have a Popeye's habit and I'd feel very deprived if I had to give it up. He laughed and said I could eat all the Popeye's I wanted. At the time, I decided I liked this surgeon who gave me a green light to eat food from Popeye's. I LOVE their onion rings and spicy chicken. Not only did this man morph into something ugly when I wanted sugery elsewhere, I have to wonder why would ANY physician give a green light to any patient to eat food from Popeye's??? Even my neighbor who had bypass surgery was not ever counselled to eat a low fat diet.
It should be abundantly clear to anyone that what we eat DOES matter. It will simply have to be up to us to create the demand for adequately informed health care professionals before the training changes for these people.
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You guys really hit on one of my pet peeve's. Why do doctors admit that heart conditions and diabetes are tied to diet but not cancer? They tell their patients to go home and exercise and eat better, but onc's just tell you to take a pill. It is maddening. WE ARE WHAT WE EAT! No matter what ails us, it is caused by a breakdown in our system. If we are not putting good fuel in an engine it will eventually start to sputter. Our bodies are no different. The average mother knows more about nutrtion than the average doctor I think! It is a fact that obese people have more cancer. It is a fact that seditary people have more cancer. So why are they telling us to get fat and sit around, but if you take our little magic pill, you will not get cancer. The whole thing just boggles my mind!
Souad, I am not sure we can address the effects on stevia and diabetes, because I think diabetes is much more complicated that wheter or not one eats sugar. I do know that agave and stevia are supposed to not cause the insulin spikes, but I do not think we can say how this relates to a diabetic. It is probably best to ask someone who knows about this, or just google it for information. I prefer not to use any artificial sweetners. Things start to taste fine without the added sugar once you try it for a couple of weeks.
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I just did a quick search on glycemic index for agave. Unfortunately, both places I looked are websites for makers of agave nectar, and they both claim low glycemic index numbers. Hopefully the information is credible, but further scrutiny definitely advised.
Anyway, one site says agave nectar's index is 32 and honey is 58. The other says agave nectar is 27 and honey is 83. That's a big discrepancy in the honey number, and I feel certain that I read a lengthy article about agave nectar having a higher index value than honey.
The big advantage for some with agave nectar is being completely plant based. Some vegans consider honey outside the realm of acceptable food (consuming nothing that comes from anything with a face). I've tried agave nectar and it tastes just as sweet as honey imo. I like it just fine.
Stevia I don't like as much, but I've ditched the spoonful of sugar in my coffee and use stevia instead. My memory is suspect, but my recollection about stevia is it has NO glycemic index at all, which really trumps any other sweetener out there.
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Hi Everyone,
I've been reading the posts on the alternative board for a while, and have especially been following this thread. I, too, am a "natural" girl, and have been for most of my adult life. I've been a vegetarian for years (but I do eat dairy), try to eat organic as much as possible, stay away from parabens, plastics, and other harmful chemicals, etc. Still, last October, at the age of 41, I was diagnosed with DCIS. The one risk factor that I had was a history of benign breast disease (plus I have to admit I did not exercise as much as I should have!!). After years of biopsies and scares, I decided to have a bilateral mastectomy. It's been almost 6 months since my surgery, and I'm feeling really good. Although my cancer was highly ER/PR +, my oncologist did not recommend Tamoxifen for me. While I was relieved and didn't want to go on Tamoxifen, it was also unsettling--since I thought I lived a pretty healthy and clean lifestyle before my diagnosis, I wondered what I could really do differently (except exercise more!!) to maximize my chance of not having a recurrence.
Some of the things I have started to do differently are: I try to start each day with lemon juice and water before I eat anything else (it's supposed to be good for cleansing the liver), I eat mushrooms almost daily (plus I take maitake and reishi supplements), I eat broccoli daily (usually have some raw and some cooked), I'm drinking more green tea, I'm down to very little dairy, I eat dark chocolate instead of other candy (I have a sweet tooth, but only eat candy in moderation!), I nibble on cinnamon sticks to curb my sweet tooth (high in antioxidants and great for keeping blood sugar stable)--they taste like Red Hots (I told you I love candy!), and I'm staying away from as many phytoestrogens as I can. I know many women swear by things like soy and flax seed, but my oncologist said to stay away from them. Since there's so much conflicting information out there, my current feeling is that I want to limit my exposure to them. As a result, I've also changed a lot of my soaps, shampoos, moisturizers, cleaning agents, etc., as many natural products have lavender (I love the smell!), which appears to be estrogenic. Also, I am trying to exercise more--once I get back into a good routine on my treadmill, I'll be fine--it's just pushing myself to start that's the issue!
As far as supplements go, I am taking a multivitamin, CoQ 10, Vitamin D-3, DIM, pro-biotics, and calcium with magnesium. I also have a capsule maker and make my own supplements. Right now I'm taking: curcumin (mixed with a little black pepper), acai berry powder, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
Someone on this thread asked about a soy-free mutivitamin. I just posted a question about that a couple of weeks ago and someone recommended Nature's Plus Daily Caps. That's the vitamin that I'm now taking--they are soy-free and vegetarian.
I love black tea, but really cannot stand green tea. I've been drinking it, but usually have to add an herbal tea to drown out the flavor. I find that if I add a Celestial Seasonings tea bag (like blueberry or raspberry), I don't taste the green tea. However, the Celestial Seasonings tea bags have soy lecithin. I haven't really done a lot of research about that--anyone know if this is potentially dangerous? Also, since I heard that the effect of green tea is magnified with some type of acid, I try to have a cup with some lemon juice added to it, at least once/day.
One other interesting piece of information related to chemicals that my friend just told me (haven't had a chance to check it out too much, but my friend is totally alternative and probably read as much as is publicly available on the matter)--because of the high acid content in tomatoes, they cannot be packaged in an ordinary steel can--it must be treated or lined with some type of material that the tomatoes will not react with. Apparently, the material that the cans are often lined with is BPA. I just checked out Eden Foods, and their website confirms that this is true, though they claim the amount is "undetectable". While this is the only canned food that Eden has that has BPA in the lining of the can, apparently there may be BPA in the lining of the cans of many other companies--not just in cans of tomatoes, but many other foods, as well. I don't like fresh tomatoes, so I always use canned when I need them, and I often use canned beans. I guess I'll have to make sure the canned beans I use are at least BPA-free. I guess the only way to get around the tomato issue is to buy fresh (or do they sell jarred tomatoes?!).
Anyway, I'm so glad that I found BCO and this board--so many of you are so knowledgeable, and I thank you for all of the great information you share!
Audrey
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Hi Audrey! Yes, agave nectar is lower glycemic index than honey--don't know the numbers but have read that in several places. I don't know about stevia although it sounds good. I think actually what is best is to kick the sugar habit rather than trying to find other sugar substitutes. It is hard at the beginning but totally do-able. I am had a medium sweet-tooth but my husband was REALLY a sugar-holic and was still able to get off sugar. We only now eat dark chocolate and it really satisfies you.
On the green tea front, I would suggest getting a better green tea. The loose tea leaves are the best and you want ones with green color and longer leaves if you can find them. I always drink it "straight" as I don't want to interfere with whatever is good in it.
I didn't know about the BPA in cans--that's terrible. I get the Pomi brand that comes in the paper containers. Hopefully that isn't coated with anything bad.
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Hi Audrey, It is so good to hear your story....thanks for sharing! I understand how you feel about finding out you had DCIS...you were doing your best to have a healthy body.....I guess that is the frustrating thing for me to comprehend. my sister was diagnosed 10 years ago with IDC ER/PR+ and lymph +, at the time she was diagnosed I tried to implement things to protect myself from BC....one thing was natural progesterone cream......I even encouraged my sister to use it too after she was diagnosed.....9 years after her diagnosis, I developed IDC ER/PR+ non lymph node....my sister told me perhaps the progesterone cr. protected me from having it spread to my lymph...
So perhaps all those years of you doing all those healthy things has helped to contain DCIS in your case....
It sounds like you are doing great....thanks for sharing about the canned food items...I too like canned beans....Diana Dyer is a 2 time breast cancer survivor....and a reg. dietician....she recommends beans daily and says that she uses canned beans...she wanted to do as much as she could to prevent another recurrence...many things you mentioned about your diet are things she advocates....
I appreciate all the comments every "natural girl" has posted.....I read often....I have been working quite alot and busy with my children....so things have been a little hard. I work in an ER and yesterday was crazy...and I felt a little sick before I went to bed...taking care of sick ones puts me at risk for catching their illnesses....Just hope this is nothing....
Also, I wanted to share about dandelion root supplements, since radiation and trying tamoxifen, I developed fluid retention. even my onc. suggested I see my family doc for a fluid pill. I started using Dandelion root supplement only when I notice the swelling in ankles and calves....and usually it helps. It is potassium sparing, while alot of fluid pills aren't. and it is good for the breast and liver.
here is a link:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dandelion-000236.htm
May is almost here.
God Bless all,
Amber
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When April steps aside for May,
Like diamonds all the raindrops glisten,
Fresh violets open every day,
To some new bird each hour we listen.–Lucy Larcom (1826–93)
Thanks for your info on agave nectar - I also bought organic coconut oil to try out vivre's luscious body cream recipe, and organic flaxseed oil, as I'm intrigued with the Budvig protocol. while chatting with the health food store owner about cancer, he recommended a book The Hidden Story of Cancer by Brian Perkin (Peskin?) I think perhaps about the politics around cancer, but he thought it was incredibly interesting. Just in case someone is looking for some new reading..... am so enjoying this thread, thanks to all for your detailed links & information...now it's time to go out get some vit D & plant rhubarb.....
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Anyone have good recepies for quinoa? My creativity thus far has been to eat it like oatmeal.
It has 7 grams of protien per serving, no beans needed LOL.
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I read Stevia has no calories (Mentioned in Block's "Mind Over Cancer"), so I've been using that vs. Agave. I use Agave in baking. I heard it was better because of the lower glycemic index and hence, less of an insulin reaction in body, which somehow is linked to the cancer chain of events.
Souad, love the poem and bird!
Spring.
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Like Merilee, I'd like your favorite Quinoa recipe. I am finding it hard to get enough protein b/c I cut down on animals in general, and I don't want all the fat of nuts. Q sounds good!
Spring.
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